Kinetic projector



April 20, 1943. c. L. LUEBBE KmETIc PROJECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 19:59

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l/EN TOR A 4 (/5555 Irranvsys April 1943. c. L. LUEBBE 2,316,798

KINETIC PROJECTOR Filed Jan. 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v lNi/i-Nfa C457 4.LUEBBE A? 8y Q.

April 20, 1943.

C. L. LUEBBE KINETIC PROJECTOR Filed Jan. 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/Ci. 3

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Patente'd Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 19 Claims.

(Granted under the act 01' amended April 30, 1928;

provide means for drawing wire, cable, or other.

material of the character indicated from one or more reels, coils, piles or bundles and feeding the same to a system of projection rollers on which suflicient velocity is imparted to the wirev or material to propel it to the desired distance.

In the process of laying wire from either a moving or a stationary vehicle or conveyance, the conventional method has been to draw the wire from a reel, coil or pile in such manner as to necessitate the manual removal of the same from the path traversed by the vehicle. ,Also, the conventional method requires the manual drawing of wire from a reel to provide slack for looping wire over bushes and about obstructions. bviously, such a procedure is slow and laborious. According to my invention, the wire is projected either from a moving or a stationary vehicle or conveyance at any desired angle of elevation or depression, and at any desired horizontal angle to distances required; while at the same time automatically providing slack or spare wire for draping wire on or about bushes, trees or other obstructions.

Another main object of the invention is to provide means coordinated with the planetary roller system for varying either or both the vertical angle and the horizontal angle of discharge, for the purpose of elevating or depressing the trajectory and for the purpose of controlling the hori-, zontal direction of discharge of the wire or other material with respect to the ground; or with respect to the conveyance upon which the invention is mounted or installed.

Another main object of the invention is to provide means by which wire or other material may be projected to a distance, either vertically, horizontally or at other angles, from a moving vehicle or conveyance or from a vehicle at rest; and an important, object is to provide means for controllin the distance to which the material is projected.

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which Wire or other material may be March a, 1883, as 370 o. c. is?) projected to a distance from a moving vehicle or conveyance at a rate which may be controlled for the purpose of providing a desired amount of slack or spare lengths of material.

A further object is to provide means for guiding the wire or other material so that it will not run ofi of the rollers,'pulleys, wheels, or other rotary devices; also to provide a guide or guides that will permit the insertion of or removalof the wire from. between the rollers or other rotary driving devices without the necessity of cutting the material, and without the necessity of withdrawing or inserting ends of the material.

Another object is to provide a framework for holding guide supports, guides, rollers, axles, springs and bearings in proper position with reference to each other; and also to provide a means for quickly opening the framework for the removal of wire or other material and for the removal and replacement of rollers, pulleys, wheels, or other parts.

Another object is to provide a means for automatically maintaining rollers, pulleys, wheels, or rotary driving devices in contact with the material with sufficient pressure for the purpose; and further to provide meansfor automatically adjusting rollers, pulleys, or other rotary driving devices to allow for varying thickness of the material which is to pass between the rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the framework and for looking the framework at. any desired angle'of elevation; and also to provide means for adjusting the framework and for locking the framework in any desired angle of azimuth or horizontal angle.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for guiding the material between the roll- -ers in a reverse direction when desired; also to provide a reversing guide which permits the removal or insertion of the material between the rollers without the necessity of cutting the same or without being obliged to insert or remove ends of the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for guiding the wire or cable in a manner that will avoid injury to the same; and to provide means including auxiliary guides for TBdUC ing friction, wear or possible damage to the ma terial entering the centering guide.

Another object of the invention is to permit the use of any suitable source oi variable power for driving the mechanism'to project the material to varying distances away from or onto a. partied lar point by varying the rate of discharge, vertifeet.

2 cal angle of discharge and/or horizontal angle ofdischarge.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic brake to prevent over-spinning of reels and to govern the action of said-brake by bodiment of the invention comprising a roller and gear system, showing a rotatable supply reel, braking and cable control means and guide elements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end section taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 2 showing the roller system and gearing flexibly connected to a prime mover such as an electric motor;

asia'zea Boiler I ismounted for rotationonaxlelanii. roiierlismountedonaxlel. 'Aswillbeseen i referencetoFigs.l,3 ,and9,athirdroller.6 functions asa drive roller incertain embodiments: oftheinvention. Said'rolleriskeyed onaxle ll The rollmm is operatively moimted in a framework generally designated by numeral I,

and'for purposes'of operation, it will be seen that said framework may be regarded as being formed in sectional components, which components are adjustable in relation to one another both in verticalandhorizontalplanestovaryandcontrol ,in bearings-as at la and roller 2 in bearings I which are free to move in guides formed in frame Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of planetary roller system for projecting wire and showing trajectories thereof;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the planetary roller system and featuring means for trajectory control in a vertical plane;

Fig. 6 is an end view of auxiliary guide rollers; Fig. '7 is a side view, partly in section, showing intermediate guide elements and auxiliary guide rollers in relation to the projection rollers;

Fig.8 is a front view looking into the leading end of the swivelled guide element shown in 11g, 1; J

Fig. 9 shows'in perspective a simplified form of the invention with the roller system coupled to a power unit;

Fig. 10 is a view, partlyin section, showing the system of projection rollers coupled flexibly to a prime mover; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view 'of the locking means taken on the line llll of Fig. 10.

The theory employed in projecting wire cable or other material to a distance is to impart sufflcient kinetic energy to the same by means of my roller system, to do the work of propelling it. Means is provided for elevating, depressing or otherwise controlling the trajectory, and it will beseen that the distances to which wire may be projected, or the height to which it may be projected, are simply functions of elevation, velocity and ballistic characteristics of 'the material.

Means is also provided for rotating the projector horizontally and hence directing the wire to any desired angle. By varying the rate of discharge,

slack or spare wire is provided as conditions require. In the devices that have been constructed to date, I have found that a roller speed of about I 3600 R. P. M. and a wire speed of about 4100 feet per minute will project W- field telephonewlre to a distanceof about feet, the highest point of the trajectory being,- in this case, about 40 Referring to the drawings, numerals land 2 designate the projection rollers, which are nora mally maintained with their peripheral surfaces in yieldable frictional c'on'tact'and between which able in a vertical plane about shaft III as an axis.

I and are, therefore, self-adjusting under tension of springs I to maintain roller 2 under properpressure and in yieldable frictional contact with roller i inorder to permit suflicient movement to grip the cable or other material during the operation of projection, whil compensating for in equalities and differences in size and thickness of the material being projected.

To permitaccess to working parts carried by frame 1 for purposes of adjustment and replacement, said frame is formed in separate parts hinged as at H and. normally held closed by a. suitable fastener as at H. .Thus it will be seen that the framework may be readily opened for the purpose of replacing and adjusting rollers, for inserting -wire between the projection rollers l and 2, also for removing the wire or cable without the necessity of cutting the same or removing ends. The frame I is pivoted to rotate in a vertical plane about an axis which coincides with will be noted that the framework'is also adiustable in a horizontal plane to control the direction of discharge of the projected material in azimuth. As previously explained, upper frame Iis rotat- For the purpose of eflecting an' adjustment in azimuth, the base frame proper denoted by I! of the upper frame structure is formed with a peripheral flange portion "b, which is. adapted to be supported for rotatable movement on a corresponding flange lfib formed around the .upper edge of sub-base frame l8,-the last-named flange acting as a slide-way for rotation of the upper frame structure in azimuth.

A system of bevel gearing functions to transmit drive to the roller system. Mounted in frame it are bearings "a m which drive shaft Ila is journalled. Bevel gear I! is keyed to said shaft l8a, and this gear meshes with gear l9,-which is keyed to shaft Isa, said shaft also carrying bevel gear 20. Gears l9 and 20 are oppositely disposed, one interiorly of the sub-base frame II and the other interiorly of base-frame proper I! on common connecting shaft Isa which is journalled in bearings "b. The rotatable adjustment in azithe wire, cable or other material denoted. by I is Meshing with upper gear 20,-another gear 2| is rollers is desirable as shown at lcand o f Fig. 7

muth of base frame I! relative to sub-base frame it is made about connecting shaft Isa as an axis.

provided which is keyed to roller drive shaft II, which shaft in turn is keyed to drive-roller 6. Shaft ill is disposed horizontally and is journailed in bearings Ila. 2"; and 2lc. It will be noted that in eii'ectingadjustment to control trajectory, frame I is rotatable about shaft l as an axis, and as previously described, frame I may be held in adjusted positions by means of locking device ll cooperating with slotted quadrant l2.

In effecting the adjustment in azimuth, base frame I I may be rotated in a horizontal plane in relation to sub-base l8 and about connecting shaft iSa as an axis. This rotational movement in a horizontal plane is made possible by means of cooperating flange portions lib and l lb, above described, which are slidably related and have their cooperating surfaces properly machined for that purpose. For the purpose of locking the frame I! in adjusted positions in azimuth, the flange "b has a slot 4| formed therein, said slot permitting a movement in arc of nearly 360. Locking lever i5, threaded into the flange |6b as at 42, is provided to maintain the frame I! in adjusted positions. From the foregoing it will be apparent that both the vertical and horizontal angles of discharge may be controlled. It will also be understood that any suitable source of variable speed power may be utilized; also, that any suitable prime mover coupled with a flexible transmission system may be adapted to the use of this projector. A prime mover M is indicated in the drawings and this may be an electric motor, internal combustion engine, or motorgenerator unit. A flexible coupling between the prime mover M and the projecting mechanism is generally denoted in the drawings by numeral 63. Additional flexibility is provided by a flexible shaft 69.

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a brake mechanism is provided which functions to eilect automatic control of the projecting operation and to prevent over-spinning of the supply reel. From a supply reel 22 wire or cable denoted by is fed to projection rollers i and 2. The brake comprises a brake bar 24, pivotally secured at its end by means of a stud 23 to a strut 64a of the reel-supporting framework. Brake lining is interposed between the bar 24 and flange it of supply reel 22, said lining being maintained in braking contact by brake actuating spring 26. This spring is attached at one end to bar 24 and at its opposite end to the reel support by bracket 45, and normally'functions to maintain said brake lining in braking contact with the reel. Interposed between supply reel 22 and the projector mechanism and forming part of the brake control mechanism is arm 28, which is operatively coordinated with the brake bar 2d by means of shaft 46, journalled in bearings ill and 38. Crank arm 49 is keyed to shaft it and is provided with crank-pin which is in operative engagement with a slotted member 5i attached to brake bar 24'. Journalled at the end of arm 28 is a grooved carrier wheel 28 on which wire or cable 5 rides while being fed from the supply reel 22. Swivelled on the shaft of said wheel is a tubular guide 33 having its leading edgeflared and through which the cable 5 is centered and guided in its travel from reel to projector. This guide 33 is formed so that its top portion may be opened on hin e 33a by releasing fastener 33b to facilitate removal of the cable and whereby the cable may be threaded into position without cutting. See Fig; 8. The

arm 2%; occupies a position intermediate of sup ply reel 22 and it will be noted that said arm is swivelled as at 52 to turn on its longitudinal axis so that guide element 33 may also turn or swing on the same axis to follow the side-to-side swing of the cable 5 as it is unwound from the supply reel 22. Thus, the guide element 33 functions both to center and guide cable 5 in its travel from reel to projector. As shown in Fig. 1 in full lines,

arm 28 is in normal position with the reel at rest.

ness for the operation of projection When a force is applied to cable 5 by rollers land 2, this force is transmitted through carrier-wheel 29, arm 28 and bar 24 to act on spring 26. Normally spring 26 raises bar 24 and applies a braking force to the reel through brake lining 25, but a downward motion of bar 24 releases the braking force. Thus, it will be apparent that when a projecting force is applied to cable direction indicated by arrows, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, through the action of arm 28 which responds to the cable movement, the brake is released, permitting reel 22 to revolve freely to pay out the cable. As the force of projection is expended, the arm 28 tends to return gradually to its normal position whereby the braking action isals'o gradually applied through the tension of spring 26. It will be understood that arm 28, carrier wheel 29 and guide element 33 take up various positions as the arm 28 moves in a vertical plane in response to the force of projection exerted upon cable 5, and through shaft 46 and crank arm 49 corresponding control force is transmitted to the brake bar 24 which is substantially proportionate to the energy of projection. One position of the arm 28 and parts carried thereby is shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. where in shifted position arm 28 is denoted by 28a. brake bar as 24a, carrier wheel as 29a, guide element as 33a, and cable as 5a. To overcome the objection of a jerky braking action, caused bv the oscillating or hunting movement of arm 28. a dashpot 21 serves to smooth out "themovement both of arm 28 and brake bar 24 whereby a smoo h braking action is produced.

Referring to Fig l. the supply reel 22 is moun ed in a skeleton frame generally designated as 58 and pedestals are rovided as at to'support the bearings 41 and 48 in which shaft 66 is journalled. The frame work and pedestals 65 are bolted to base 66. The roller system and gearing mechanism are mounted in. asupporting skeleton frame work as at 61. It will be'understood that the apparatus is primarily intended for portable use and generally will be installed in a truck, the bed of the truck being denoted by reference character 68 in Fig. 1.

Referr ng to Figs. 1 and 2. 6 and 7, a system of auxiliary feed and guide rollers are shown. One arrangement comprises rollers 38, 35, 36 and 3?; and shafts for these rollers are denoted by 84in. 35a, 36a. and 31a, respectively. r These rollers are arranged to form an auxil ary gu d system for reducing friction between the wire or cable and the guide proper denoted by 33. A centering gu de element 38 is used in some instances, which guide takes the form seen in Fig. 7. When pro- I jection rollers l and 2 are of sufficient width, the

centering guide 38 may be elminated. and the auxiliary guide rollers alone will be suificient to guide the wire between rollers i and 2. Refer ring again to Fig. 1, it will be apparent that tension is required on wire 5 to properly control the braking action and release the supply reel. Also to set the reel in motion and to maintain this mo- 5 by rollers l and 2 in a tion, proper tension on the wire or cable is required. when rollers I and 2 are slowed down. the spring 26 functions to actuate the brake and thus to put tension on the wire. It follows that there will always be tension more or less on the wire or cable which will keep the same in contact with the auxiliary guide rollers in such manner as, to avoid entanglement with the roller system. A pair of retracting rollers are indicated by numerals 39 and 40. These rollers are disposed vertically and are used when rewinding wire to prevent the wire from shifting laterally and slipping of! rollers l and 2. It is intended that any suitable means for supporting auxiliary rollers 84, 35,46, and 31, also centering guide 38, and retracting guides 39 and 40 may be utilized. By arranging the auxiliary guide supports in two sections, the parts will be made accessible for insertion and removal of wire without cutting and withdrawing ends. The auxiliary rollers just described are idlers and are so mounted as to reduce friction to a minimum.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, a pair of projection rollers are employed such as land 2,

. in which I is the friction drive roller and 2 the driven roller. The framework for supporting the roller system comprises base frame It, side members Ia and lb, and .a removable top member 53;

To permit removal and replacement of parts, and for the purpose of inserting and withdrawing wire or cable, latches I la and l lb are provided whereby the top member 53 may be opened at either or both ends. Accessibility to working parts is facilitated by mounting the side member on hinge 54 whereby the side member may be swung open by releasing latch Nb and raising the top member, a lever 55 ,being attached to thetop member for manipulating the same. It will be noted that drive roller l is keyed to stub shaft Illa, which shaft is journalled in bearing 58. Driven roller 2 frotates on shaft 4 which is.sup-' ported in bearing blocks 51, these blocksbein maintained under tension by springs 8. Said ioller 2 is centered between spacing collars I. For the purpose of controlling trajectory. t e framework is pivoted for rotation in a vertical plane on the y The lever 55 is manipulated by the operator to effect the operation of trajectorycontrol. As in other cases, means is provided for locking-the frame in various adjusted positions of angular shaft Illa, of roller 'l as an axis.-

elevation, said means including screw lock 59 and lever 80. For the purpose of controlling direcpermit adjustment in azimuth through an arc of 'tion in a horizontal plane, means is provided to i 360, which means comprises a turret support 8| 1 Clamping collar 62, which maybe locked and unlocked at any point by lever 68, which leveralso may be manipulated to swing the entire frame structure about the vertical axis of said turret. It" will be understood that when it is desired to rotate the frame structure in azimuth through an arc of more than 180, the wire or cable'being fed between rollers l and 2 may be readily removed rollers, whereupon the feeding operation may be the cable about the framework. As in the case operation, by opening of other forms of the invention, drive shaft Ila is coupled to prime mover M by nexible' coupling 43.

Asmay be seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 5, trajectory may be controlled by rotaungith uor system about the shaft of one of the rollers as an axis. In the two roller system shown in Fig.

4, rollers l and 2 being the projection rollers, the

driven roller 2 may be rotated on the axis of drive roller I through an arc of 90 to position 2a to produce an elevated trajectory as denoted by 5a. In a normal position, with rollers l and 2 as shown in full lines, the trajectory will take the form indicated by the cable in full line position. A depressed trajectory may be produced by rotating roller 2 in a clockwise direction until be controlled by the adjustment indicated, and

will vary according to the kinetic energy imparted to the wire or cable, being governed also by the force of gravity, the ballistic nature of the material as well as other internal and external forces acting on the wire. From a further study of these and other figures of the drawings, it will appear that both height and distance to which material may be projected may be controlled by varying either or both the angle of elevation of discharge and the rate or velocity of discharge.

As to the cycle of operation, a typical case of projecting field telephone wire may be assumed by way of example. It will be noted that throughout-the description and claims the words wire and cable have been used synonymously.

It will be understood, as previously stated, that a mechanism embodying the principles of the inzerzitilon is applicable to a wide range of mae a s.

temal combustion engines, a gasoline-electric .power plant, or an electric motor alone. when using a gasoline engine. a gear and clutch system As has also been pointed out, different prime movers may be use such as forms of inrheostat control and a clutch would not be required. As will be understood, a flexible means. 7

of transmission and coupling of the power plant to the projector mechanism is contemplated and generally indicated by the disclosure.

In carrying through the cycle of operation, thread the ends of the wire from the supply reel 22 through the guide element 33, over grooved carrier'wheel 20, whichis coordinat di 5 with the brake, thence through the intermediate guide rollers 34, I, ",and :1, guide element a,-

between projection rollers l and 2 and rollers- I! and 40. Meanwhile, the p wer plant has been I started and ilrst'operated at'a low rate of sp e The speed is accelerated and power, communicated to the projector system. The'iamount of acceleration would depend upon the the,

wire was to be projected. As the force of pro jection is exerted upon the wire by the projection rollers. the brake responding automatically to the pull on the wire is released to permit the wire to be-payed out by the supply reel. It will be understood that appreciable time is required to overcome" inertia of the reel andibody of wire which it carries, and other retarding forces must betaken into account by the operator, who makes all necessaryadjustments and regulates operational steps accordingly to compensate for the- The horizontal conditionsmet in laying wire. and vertical angles of discharge must be varied to control direction and trajectory during vari-' ous stages of the operation, all of which requires exercise of judgment and discretion on the part of the operator.

and as the force of projection exerted on the wire is expended, the brake system operates to bring the reel to a'stop.

Changes, modifications and equivalent ar-' rangements are contemplated within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for projecting cable and the,

To bring the projector and reel to a stop, the motor or engine is slowed down,

ponents having elements of the gearing mounted therein and being adjustable in a horizontal plane; means for locking the first-named component and driven rollers in different positions to control the trajectory; means for locking the second-named component and driven rollers in different position to control the direction; a prime mover; and means including a'fiexible transmisslon system for operatively coupling the gearing to said prime mover.

5. A' mechanism for projecting cable and the like to a distance'comprising a plurality of projectlon rollers maintained in yieldable contact and between which the cable is fed; high speed drive means including a prime mover and transmission for communicating'power to the rollers;

a cable supply reel; a brake for the reel; means 5 for normally holding the brake in braking contact with said reel; and means for supporting thecable and coacting with the brake and the cable to release the brake in response to the force 'of' projection of said cable, said means for justing both of said projection rollers independently of the drive roller to determine and control the vertical angle of projection; said lastnamed means comprising an angularly adjusable carriage pivoted to said sectional frame about the axis of rotation of said drive roller; a prime mover; and means including a transmission system for operatively coupling the drive roller to said prime mover.

2. In a mcehanism for projecting cableand the like, a system of rollers comprising projection rollers and a drive roller; tensioning means for normally maintaining the rollers with their peripheral surfaces in yielding frictional contact; a frame formed in sections wherein said rollers are mounted, one of said sections carrying the projection rollers; and means for adjusting said last-named section about the axis of the drive roller and independently of said drive roller to control the trajectory angle of said projection rollers; a prime mover; and means including a flexible transmission for operatively coupling the drive roller to said prime mover.

3. In a projector for wire cable, a system of rollers comprising a pair of driven rollers between which the cable is fed for projection; high speed drive means for driving the said rollers including a driving roller and a transmission flexibly coupled to said last named roller; a frame assembly in which the rollers are mounted; said frame assembly including means operable to move the same to. various angular adjusted positions to thereby determinethe direction of travel of the cable as it leaves said driven rollers; means carried by the frame for maintaining the driven rollers under spring tension; and means for locking the frame inadjusted positions to control the trajectory of the cable during the projecting operation. v

4. In a mechanism for projecting cable and the like, a system of rollers including driven rollers between which the cable isfed for. projection; tensioning means for maintaining said rollers with their peripheral surfaces in yieldable contact; means including gearing for communicating drive to the roller system; a frame assembly comprising sectional components, one of said components having the driven rollers mounted therein and being angularly adjustable in a vertical plane and another ofsaid comnormally holding the brake in braking contact causing the brake to resume its braking action as the force of projection is expended; and a dashpot cooperating with said last-named means and with the brake to efiect a uniform and smooth operation of the mechanism.

6. A mechanism for projecting wire cable to a distance comprising a system of rollers, including means for maintaining said rollers in friction contact and under yielding tension; a sectional frame assembly, a first section of said assembly supporting said rollers and being adjustable angularly in a vertical plane, and another section carrying the first section and being adjustable in azimuth; means for locking the first named section indifferent angular positions H to determine the trajectory of the cable during the projecting operation; a source of power; a system of gearing comprising afirst gear wheel carried by said sectional frame assembly and operatively connected to one of said rollers, and a second gear wheel engaging the first gear wheel driven by said source of power and positioned to be operable to drive the first gear wheel irrespective of the adjustments of the first and sec- 0nd sections in their respective planes; and means for locking the second named section in any position throughout its range of adjustment in 7. Amechanism for projecting cable to a distance comprising a system of driven rollers and a drive roller; a frame assembly comprising sectional components, one of said components having the driven rollers mounted therein; a shaft on which the drive roller is keyed and hearings in which said shaft is journalled; meansfor angularly changing the position of the first named component pivotally about said shaft as an axis .to determine the angle of projection; means cooperating with said components for locking said first-named component in different adjusted positions; said first-named component including means permitting opening and closing the said first-named component to permit operative adjustments; a prime mover; and a flexible transmission operatively coupling the prime mover with thedrive roller. 7

8. A' mechanism for projecting wire cable to a distance comprising a system of rollers, including driven rollers between which the cable is fed; tensioning means for maintaining said driven rollers in yieldable contact; a system of gearing for driving the rollers; a frame assembly comprising sectional components,'one of said components having the roller system mounted thereout its range of adjustment in azimuth to determine direction in a horizontal plane; a prime mover; and means for operatively connecting the gearing system therewith.

9. A mechanism for projecting cable and the like to a distance comprising a drive anda pair of driven rollers; a sectional frame assembly in which said rollers are mounted as an operative group, one section of said frame being adjustable in different angular positions to change the angular position of said driven rollers and to control the trajectory of the cable; bearings for tancecomprising a support and a system of projection rollers mounted on the support, saidroll- ,ers being maintained in yieldable frictional contact and between which the cable is fed; a cable supply reel; means for contro the reel including a brake for the reel; means for yieldably holding the brake in braking contact with said reel; means co-acting with the brake and cable to operate the brake in response to tension applied to the cable, said means including an arm I pivoted for movement in a plane centrally of said reel, a grooved carrier wheel for engaging the cable swivelled on said arm, and a tubular elethe rollers andtensioning means operative with the bearings for maintaining the rollers with their peripheral surfaces in yieldable contact; means to permit adjustment of another section of the frame in azimuthito control projection angle in a horizontal planejtand including means for locking the last-named section in any position throughout its range of adjustment; a prime mover; and means for operatively connecting the drive system therewith to perform the function of projection.

10. In a mechanism for projecting cable and the like to a distance, a system of projection rollers having their peripheral surfaces normally held in yieldable frictional contact and one of said rollers functioning as a drive roller; a drive shaft on which said last-named roller is keyed; a sectional framework in one section of which said rollers are operatively mounted, said sectionbeing movable about said shaft as an axis to control the trajectory angle of the said rollers; means for rotating said section to vary the trajectory angle; a turret on which the framework is supported and about which the framework is rotatable. in azimuth; means for locking the framework in adjusted positions on said turret; and means for operating said last-named means, said means including a lever which also functions to manipulate the framework in rotational movement. i

11. A mechanism for projecting cable and the like to a distance comprising a support and a system of projection rollers mounted on the support, said rollers beingmaintained ,in yieldable frictional contact and between which the cable is fed; high speed drive means including a prime mover and a flexible transmission for transmiting drive to the rollers; a cable supply reel mounted on' said support; means for controlling the reel including a brake'for the reel; means for yieldably holding the brake in braking contact with said reel; means co-acting with the brake and cable to operate the brake in response to cable tension, said means including an arm pivoted for movement in a vertical plane centrally of said-reel, a carrier wheel for engaging the cable swivelled on said arm, and a tubular element carried by said arm and acting to center and guide the cableover the carrier wheel; and said means including a crank connected with said arm and slidably connecting said brake to release the brake when the cable is tensioned.

12. A mechanism for projecting cable to a disment attached to said arm acting to center and guide the cable in its travel over the carrier wheel; auxiliary guide rollers, including an intermediate guide element interposed between said carrier wheel and projection rollers to maintainthe cable in proper feeding position in relation to said last named rollers; and said means including a crank connected with said arm and slidably connecting said brake to release the brake when the cable is tensioned.

13. A mechanism for projecting cable to a distance comprising a support and a system of projection rollers mounted on the support, said rollers being maintained in yieldable frictional contact and between which the cable is fed; a cable supply reel; means for controlling the reel including a brake for the reel; means for yieldably holding the brake in braking contact with said reel; means co-acting with the brake and cable to operate the brake in response to tension applied to the cable, said means including an arm pivoted for movement in a vertical plane centrally of said reel, a grooved carrier wheel for engaging the cable swivelled on said arm, and a tubular element attached to said arm acting to center and guide the cable in its travel over the carrier wheel, said element being provided with means to permit removal of the cable; auxiliary guide rollers, including an intermediate guide element to maintain the cable in proper feeding position in relation to said last-named rollers, said element being formed as a two-part structure and provided with means to permit removal of the cable without cutting;

and said means including a-crank connected with said arm and slidably connecting said" brake to release the brake when the cable is tensioned.

, 14. The method of laying field wire at the side of the path of movement of a moving vehicle which includes projecting, from the vehicle linearly along the axis of the wire, the field wire at such rate that a greater length of wire is projected in a given time than the distance traveled by the vehicle during such time, at such high speed at an angle above the horizontal plane as to thereby effect a long trajectory above such plane, at an angle in said horizontal plane with -for maintaining the rollers in operative contact under spring tension; a frame assembly in which said rollers are mounted; means for moving the frame assembly to determine the direction for projecting the cable in a horizontal plane; means to control the trajectory of the cable; a reel for the cable; and means for controlling the cable projecting operation comprising a carrier element responsive to the tension effected in the cable by the operation of said rollers, and braking means responsive to and controlled by said carrier element for ei fecting a braking action on the reel when the tension in said cable due to action of the rollers is small. I

16. A cable projector of the class described comprising a system of drive and driven rollers; a frame assembly in which said rollers are operatively mounted; means for maintaining the rollers in yielding contact under spring tension; means for opening and closing said frame to per mit adjustment and removal of the rollers;

- means to effect angular adjustment of the frame assembly to control the angle of projection of the cable in a'horizontal plane; means to control the trajectory of the cable in the'vertical plane; a cable supply reel; control means for determining the degree of tension in the cable as it leaves said reel comprising means which has a portion biased against-the cable, and which moves to a position determined by the tension in the cable; and brake means operated by changes in position of said control means for effecting a braking action on said reel when the control means is in a position which indicates the tension in the cable is small and for reducing the effectiveness of the braking action on said reel when the control means changes its position to indicate that tension in said cable is increasing.

17. A mechanism for projecting cable or the like to a distance, comprising a system of rollers, including driven rollers between which the cable is fed; tensioning means for maintaining said driven rollers in yieldable contact; a frame assembly in which said rollers are mounted, said frame assembly comprising a component supporting said driven rollers, and adjustable angularly jecting operation, comprising a braking device normally acting to exert a braking force upon said reel; and means including a carrier element for supporting the cable and coacting with the upon the reel as the wire from the reel slackens.

18. A mechanism for projecting cable or the like to a distance comprising a system of rollers, including driven rollers between which the cable is fed; tensioning means for maintaining said driven rollers in yieldable contact; a frame assembly in which said rollers are mounted, said frame comprising a component supporting said driven rollers and adjustable angularly in a vertical plane to permit control of the angle of projection of the cable; a prime mover; a drive system for the rollers, and means for operatively coupling the same to said prime mover; a cable supply reel; means for controlling the reel com prising a brake and including a spring element for normally holding the brake in braking contact with the said reel; means coacting with the brake and cable to operate the brake in response to cable tension, said means including a movable arm, a carrier wheel for engaging the cable swivelled on said arm, and said means including a crank cooperating with said arm and brake to release the brake when the cable is tensioned.

19. A mechanism for projecting cable to a distance comprising a system of rollers, including driven rollers between which the cable is fed for projection; tensioning means for maintaining the rollers in yieldable contact; a frame assembly in which said rollers are operatively mounted; a prime mover; a drive for the rollers and means for operatively coupling the drive to said prime mover; a cable supply reel; means to control the reel comprising a brake and including a spring element for normally holding the brake in braking contact with the said reel; means coacting with the brake and cable to operate the brake in response to cable tension, said means including a movable arm, a carrier wheel for engaging the cable swivelled on said arm, and said means including a crank cooperating with said arm and brake to release the brake when the cable is tensioned.

CLETUS L. LUEBBE. 

